Half a Heart

HALF A HEART

So
This is how it feels to live with only half a heart
The half that’s made of valves and muscle
That pulses and beats and sends the blood around
That keeps my mind alert
And hurt

The other half’s not dead
- the half that loves and beats for someone else -
It lives away from me right now

I remember when it was asleep and didn’t know
The joy of beating side by side
Beat for beat, pulse for pulse, breath for breath
With someone else

Though now it hurts to be like this
Alone, in love
I would not wish my heart were still asleep
For then I would have missed this sweet awakening
That celebrates the meeting of two hearts
The fearless sharing of two selves
The eager baring of two souls
The hopeful dream of something real together

How will I live with only half a heart?
It feels as though I will not really live at all
I fill the roles my choices carved for me
But there’s no spirit in my living
The shell is empty
And I don’t know how to become whole
Once more